October's Close Encounters

In baseball, October is the month when legacies are made. One moment can mean the difference between getting a ticker-tape parade or registering as an also-ran.

Is there a way to predict which teams will make the best use of the big moments that are sure to face them once the postseason gets started on Tuesday? We looked at every playoff series since the wild-card system began in 1995 and found what looks like a leading indicator: The...